Daniel, the Car, and Caleb’s Spirit

Around 1999, our family was living in the small Welsh community of Newport. We had moved into a little cottage called the Pencoed Castle Bungalow. It sounds glamorous living in the bungalow of a 1,200-year-old castle but trust me, it wasn’t. The house sat in the castle’s old moat, surrounded by thousands of sheep. The truth is, it was all we could afford. We rented it from an old farmer for $75 a month, and though it was humble, it became home.

At that time, Daniel had just gotten his driver’s permit. He was eager to get behind the wheel, and honestly, he already had a head start. Back on the ranch, he had driven tractors and old trucks long before most kids his age were even tall enough to see over the dashboard.

One evening while we were watching TV, someone casually said, “I wish we had something to snack on.” Daniel perked up immediately: “I’ll run down to the corner store and grab something.”

Mom and I exchanged glances. It had to happen sometime. With a little hesitation, we gave him the keys.

But time passed, and Daniel didn’t come back as quickly as we expected. I started to get uneasy. We only had one car, so I couldn’t go out looking for him. Finally, headlights appeared in the drive. Daniel walked through the door with a sheepish look on his face.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “but I had a little accident with the car.”

We stepped outside. Sure enough, the car had a bent rim and some dents enough to make your stomach sink, but not a total disaster. Daniel explained what happened. He hadn’t been speeding. He hadn’t been reckless. But the narrow, single-lane roads had tricked him, and he’d slipped into a ditch.

The next morning, while working on the car together, I asked him, “So, what happened? Were you going too fast? Did you miss the corner? Were you distracted?”

Daniel shook his head. “No, Dad. I think it’s because I’ve only ever driven left-hand drive cars, and this was a right-hand drive. I just got turned around.”

But here’s what struck me: Daniel didn’t say, “Dad, this is your fault. You never should have let me drive.” He didn’t blame the car. He didn’t shift responsibility. Instead, he said:

   •   “Dad, I need your help.”

   •   “I’m sorry. Forgive me.”

   •   “What do I need to do to make this right?”

That’s humility. That’s responsibility. That’s the right spirit.

Now contrast that with Israel in the wilderness.

In Numbers 14, the twelve spies returned from Canaan. Ten of them spread fear and discouragement. And instead of crying out for help, the people cried out in blame:

“God, why did You bring us here to die? This is Your fault!”

James 1:13 (NLT) warns us:

“When you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else.”

God was leading them toward promise, but they accused Him of plotting their destruction. They had the wrong spirit.

But Caleb responded differently. He saw the same giants, the same fortified cities, the same impossible odds but his words were full of faith:

“Do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.” Numbers 14:9

God Himself said of Caleb in Numbers 14:24:

“But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring him into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”

Caleb’s life gives us two powerful lessons:

1. Caleb wholly followed the Lord.

He didn’t waver when the crowd shouted him down. He didn’t compromise when it would have been easier to blend in. His testimony in Joshua 14:8 is striking:

“Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.”

Looking back on his life, Caleb could say, “I did the right thing.” That’s the same confidence Paul expressed at the end of his life:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”  2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)

2. Caleb had a different spirit.

While others panicked, Caleb trusted. While others spread fear, Caleb spoke courage. He had a spirit of faith when others were filled with unbelief.

That’s what set him apart and that’s what still sets God’s people apart today.

When life crashes and it will you and I have two choices:

   •   We can respond like Israel: “God, this is Your fault.”

   •   Or we can respond like Daniel that night in Wales: “Father, I need Your help. Forgive me. Show me what to do to make it right.”

One response leads to rebellion. The other leads to restoration.

Caleb’s spirit and Daniel’s humility remind us of three things:

            1.        Take responsibility instead of casting blame.

Immaturity blames. Maturity owns the moment and asks God for help.

            2.        Follow God fully, not partially.

Caleb followed God even when it nearly cost him his life. Following God is not about convenience it’s about commitment.

            3.        Cultivate a different spirit.

The world is filled with fear, complaint, and compromise. But like Caleb, we can choose faith, courage, and conviction.

That night in Wales, Daniel didn’t just teach me about driving he reminded me about faith. He could have blamed, excused, or defended himself. Instead, he humbled himself, asked for forgiveness, and invited me to help. That’s the same “different spirit” Caleb carried into the Promised Land.

When everyone else panicked, Caleb stood firm.

When everyone else said “we can’t,” Caleb declared, “God can.”

That’s the spirit we need today.

So let us wholly follow Him.

Let us stand with strong convictions.

Let us walk with a different spirit.

And when the world panics, may we boldly declare:

“The LORD is with us. Do not fear.”